| Throughout mankind's history, diamonds have | | | | British colonial Africa, saw an opportunity and |
| stood for power, prestige, courage, devotion, | | | | formed the De Beers Mining Company that pooled |
| invincibility, love and lust. But in reality, diamonds | | | | together diamond miners and prospectors to |
| are merely rocks, a mineral gem made up of | | | | control the supply. |
| simple carbon crystals that have formed inside | | | | With this cartel of diamond producers, Rhodes |
| the Earth for thousands and millions of years. | | | | was able to control and dictate the market, |
| So what is it about this precious gem that makes | | | | preventing too much diamonds from entering the |
| it stand above the rubies, emeralds, sapphires and | | | | market and lowering prices. |
| other precious stones of the world? | | | | By manipulating the diamond supply and demand, |
| Diamonds used to be rare. It was only through | | | | De Beers became the most successful cartel in |
| recent technology and discovery of diamond | | | | the 20th century. Today, the De Beers |
| mines in Africa has it been marketed as a global | | | | Corporation owns and controls an estimated 90 |
| commercial item. But there was a time when any | | | | percent of the world's supply of uncut or rough |
| diamond that was mined and crafted was | | | | diamonds. |
| reserved only for the king. Saint Louis IX of | | | | Because of the success of De Beers in controlling |
| France had even made a sumptuary law that | | | | the industry, diamonds have actually thrived and |
| made it so. | | | | its being precious and its worth have been |
| Today though, ever since the discovery of | | | | preserved. And until today, the reputation and |
| diamond mines in Africa, diamonds are not so | | | | mystique of diamonds are known worldwide. |
| rare, but still coveted and sold throughout the | | | | It is called the king of gems, and its universal |
| world because of its beauty and worth. | | | | appeal makes it expensive and coveted. What |
| During the 1800s, diamond prospectors found | | | | woman does not want to own diamond jewelry? |
| huge deposits of diamonds in southern and central | | | | What man has not been loved all the more |
| Africa. One particular area in South Africa was | | | | because of a diamond engagement ring or a pair |
| Kimberly, and because of the enormous amount | | | | of diamond earrings given to a ladylove as a gift? |
| of diamond deposits found here, these mines | | | | Modern technology and discovery might have |
| became to be known as kimberlites. | | | | made the diamond more accessible and less rare, |
| This sudden explosion in the supply of diamonds | | | | but that has not diminished its prestige or |
| flooded the market when thousand of prospects | | | | mankind's fascination with it. |
| came to mine the kimberlites. This made diamond | | | | History has dictated events that have made the |
| prices plummet from 500 dollars to ten cents a | | | | diamond the precious gem as it is known today |
| carat. | | | | and we can only follow the examples of better |
| The diamond market came to a sudden turn | | | | people before us and fall in love with its brilliance |
| when a young man named Cecil Rhodes entered | | | | and beauty. |
| the scene. Rhodes, who would later help build | | | | |